Nancy Staub Laughlin’s creative path took shape following her completion of a BFA at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, PA. Throughout her career, her work has been showcased in a variety of venues, including galleries and museums along the East Coast. Her art has been featured in several corporate and private collections. A pivotal moment in her career came when esteemed art critic Sam Hunter praised her work, calling it “refreshingly unique.” Laughlin’s art is characterized by a strong sense of focus and intensity, and her recognizable style persists even as she continues to evolve. She explores the relationships between light, form, and color, inviting the viewer into richly layered, immersive worlds.
In The Elegance of the Storm (32 x 45, pastel on paper and mounted photographs), Laughlin delves into the dynamic contrasts of a storm. Her portrayal of light and color offers a vivid interpretation of the chaos found in nature, where swirling snow and wind are rendered with a delicate balance of energy and grace. This piece invites the viewer to step into the experience of the storm—feeling the tension between the storm’s intensity and its underlying beauty. The pastels provide a warm, radiant quality that frames the storm as something not destructive, but rather awe-inspiring and full of natural splendor.
The Dazzling of Spring (41 x 60, pastel on paper and mounted photograph) transports the audience to the vibrant resurgence of life that defines spring. The bright colors in this work mirror the explosion of flowers in full bloom, each petal sparkling with light and energy. Here, Laughlin doesn’t just capture a moment in time; she brings the sensation of renewal and rebirth to life through her glowing palette. The delicate pastels create a softness that enhances the ethereal nature of the scene, making spring appear not just as a season, but as a lively, almost otherworldly phenomenon.
In The Phenomenon of the Spring Snow (28 x 36, pastel on paper, mounted photographs), Laughlin captures a rare, fleeting moment when spring and winter converge. Trees heavy with blossoms are dusted by a light layer of snow, creating a striking contrast between the warmth of new growth and the lingering chill of winter. This piece draws the viewer into the fragile balance between these two forces, where the pastel medium emphasizes the softness and delicacy of both the flowers and the snow. It is a moment of transience, where the seasons briefly overlap before each retreats, heightening the beauty of their coexistence.
Laughlin crafts entire environments that pull viewers in. Through the interplay of light, texture, and color, her art has a tactile quality that makes it feel as though the viewer is stepping into a scene rather than simply observing it. The combination of pastels and mounted photographs adds an extra layer of depth, with each piece containing both visual richness and a sense of movement.
Laughlin’s artistic vision remains consistent across her body of work, evoking feelings of wonder and quiet introspection. These are not just landscapes—they are immersive experiences that reveal the interconnectedness of the natural world’s beauty, fragility, and strength. The emotional resonance and technical prowess in her pieces allow viewers to engage deeply, offering a fresh perspective on nature’s awe-inspiring moments.
